SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 5120.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "5120" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

longbract wild indigo

Scientific Name: Baptisia bracteata var. laevicaulis

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Longbract Wild Indigo (Baptisia bracteata)

Longbract wild indigo, also known as Cream False Indigo, Cream Wild Indigo, or Plains Wild Indigo, is a perennial species appreciated for its early blooming period.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is in the legume family Fabaceae, and the fruit is a legume.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Baptisia bracteata Muhl. ex Elliott
  • Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae, Pea Family)
  • Common Names: Longbract Wild Indigo, Cream False Indigo, Cream Wild Indigo, Plains Wild Indigo
  • Synonyms/Varieties:
    • Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea (Nutt.) Kartesz &amp Gandhi
    • Baptisia leucophaea

Distribution and Habitat

  • Observed in Minnesota and North Georgia.
  • Found in the Boykin Spring area of Angelina National Forest.
  • May have a small area of natural occurrence in some of the Sandhills counties of South Carolina.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • A perennial growing to approximately 0.7 meters (2 ft 4 in) in height and 0.6 meters (2 ft) in spread.
  • One of the lower growing Baptisias, typically reaching 18-24 inches in height but can spread up to 36 inches at maturity.
  • Blooms from May to June, with some sources noting blooms as early as March to early April.
  • Fruit is a legume with a typically round shape and elongated tip.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Seeds are subject to predation by weevils.
  • Serves as a host plant for the larvae of Wild Indigo Duskywing, Hoary Edge, and Southern Dogface butterflies.

Additional Resources

  • USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
  • Discover Life: Baptisia bracteata - Longbract wild indigo -- Discover Life
  • Vanderbilt University Bioimages: http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/thomas/0484-01.htm